The European Commission officially launched the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) - the fourth EU macro-regional strategy - on 28 July. More than 70 million citizens will reap the benefits of a closer cooperation between regions and countries in terms of research and innovation, SME support, mobility, tourism, environmental protection and energy resources management. This macro-regional strategy concerns seven countries; five Member States - Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia - and two non-EU countries - Liechtenstein and Switzerland - overall involving 48 regions.

A detailed look at Jewish life in Germany based on interviews with a broad range of German Jewish leaders. It explores how Jewish life has changed in Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the challenges posed by the huge influx of Jews and their families from the Former Soviet Union.
Part of a four-paper series looking at Jewish life in east-central Europe since the collapse of communism, the Germany report says that the question of whether Jews in German should be sitting on packed suitcases "has been answered with a resounding 'no' by prominent members of the community". Yet the question of how safe Jews are in Germany remains alive and well.
The research was conducted by author and journalist Toby Axelrod, and was funded by the Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe. A German language version is also available.

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is a united response to challenges affecting an area which stretches from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, including over 100 million inhabitants. Many of the region’s problems know no borders: flooding, transport and energy links, environmental protection and challenges to security all demand a united approach. The 14 countries in the region, with the support of the European Commission, are cooperating to develop projects and actions that meet these challenges and build prosperity in the Danube region.

The upcoming election in Germany is being widely touted as one of the most important elections of 2013. The pending outcome of this election is largely anticipated in Europe. Whilst, Merkel is tipped to win her third campaign, recent election results suggest otherwise.

Along with the country-specific recommendations and the conclusions of the in-depth reviews, the European Commission is today also making three proposals to the Council related to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP). Firstly, the Commission is recommending that the Council abrogate the EDP for Bulgaria and Germany, as foreseen in Article 126(12) of the Treaty. In March, Bulgaria and Germany notified that their 2011 general government deficit was below 3% of GDP. Following the validation of these figures by Eurostat on 23 April 2012, and also taking into account that the Commission's 2012 spring forecast shows that these deficits will remain durably below 3% of GDP, the Commission has concluded that the correction of their excessive deficits is ensured. Secondly, the Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council decision to lift the suspension of commitments from the Cohesion Fund for Hungary, after concluding that the country has taken the necessary action to correct its excessive deficit, in line with the Council Recommendation of 13 March 2012. More specifically, the Commission has concluded in its assessment that the 2012 budget deficit target of 2.5% of GDP is expected to be reached and the 2013 budget deficit is expected to be well below the 3% of GDP reference value, despite the slight weakening of the macroeconomic environment, as indicated by the Commission in its 2012 spring forecast. The Commission will continue to closely monitor budgetary developments in Hungary, in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact.

Social support in Germany is handled via the individual branches of social security: statutory medical, healthcare, pension, unemployment and accident insurance. The legal basis is provided by the Social Security Code (Sozialgesetzbuch) and the specific Acts.

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation part of the proposed acquisition of the aggregate activities of Tarmac, part of the UK-based Anglo American group, by Eurovia, part of the French Vinci group.

The European Commission has yesterday sent reasoned opinions to Italy, Poland and Germany for failing to notify measures for the implementation of EU legislation ensuring technical harmonisation and safety on EU inland waterways.

Germany has infringed Community law by restricting to its own undertakings alone the possibility of entering into contracts with Polish undertakings in respect of work to be carried out within its territory, ruled the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Labelling the restrictions as discriminatory, the ECJ found that they could not be justified by any reasonable means.